Welcome to TBO.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Sports

TBO > Sports

Celtics Hold Off Pistons To Take 3-2 Series Lead

The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 29, 2008

BOSTON - Ray Allen found his shooting touch just in time to put the Boston Celtics within one win of the NBA Finals for the first time since the original Big Three.

Allen scored 29, hitting a long 2-pointer after Detroit came within one point with a minute left, then he and Kevin Garnett each made a pair of free throws down the stretch as the Celtics beat the Detroit Pistons 106-102 on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

Game 6 is Friday in Detroit, and with a victory there or on Sunday back in Boston, the Celtics would advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish took them there in 1987.

DETROIT (102) - Prince 3-7 2-2 8, McDyess 1-2 2-4 4, Wallace 6-12 0-0 18, Billups 7-17 9-9 26, Hamilton 8-14 8-9 25, Maxiell 2-4 2-4 6, Stuckey 3-9 6-8 13, Hunter 0-1 0-0 0, Ratliff 1-1 0-2 2. Totals 31-67 29-38 102.

BOSTON (106) - Pierce 5-11 5-8 16, Garnett 11-17 10-12 33, Perkins 8-11 2-2 18, Rondo 3-14 1-2 7, R.Allen 9-15 6-6 29, Brown 0-2 0-0 0, Posey 1-3 0-0 3, Cassell 0-0 0-0 0, House 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 37-73 24-30 106.

Detroit	23	23	25	31	-	102
Boston	23	29	32	22	-	106

3-Point Goals-Detroit 11-21 (Wallace 6-9, Billups 3-7, Stuckey 1-2, Hamilton 1-2, Hunter 0-1), Boston 8-15 (R.Allen 5-6, Garnett 1-1, Pierce 1-3, Posey 1-3, Rondo 0-1, Brown 0-1). Fouled Out-McDyess. Rebounds-Detroit 37 (McDyess, Billups 5), Boston 50 (Perkins 16). Assists-Detroit 23 (Billups, Hamilton 6), Boston 25 (Rondo 13). Total Fouls-Detroit 30, Boston 21. Technicals-Hamilton, Wallace, Detroit defensive three second, Perkins, Posey, Boston defensive three second 2. Flagrant Fouls-Brown. A-18,624 (18,624).

NOAH GETS PROBATION, FINE: Chicago Bulls forward Joakim Noah accepted a deferred prosecution agreement Wednesday in his marijuana possession case, resulting in six months' probation and a $200 fine. The former UF star was charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and for having an open container of alcohol early Sunday in downtown Gainesville.

Share this: